Making Ulster HEART Safe
The goal of the Ulster County HEART Safe Community program is to improve the chances for anyone suffering from sudden cardiac arrest to have the best possible chance for survival.
The HEART Safe Community program is based on incentives and recognition to all those who meet specific criteria that have the potential for saving the lives of sudden cardiac arrest victims through the use of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and increased public access to defibrillation.
The program recognizes and honors the efforts of municipalities, businesses, educational institutions and other community organizations in Ulster County who have taken steps to potentially save the lives of sudden cardiac arrest victims through the use of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and increased public access to defibrillation devices.
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), less than five percent of sudden cardiac arrest victims survive because vast majorities witnessing the arrest do not know CPR or the “chain of survival,” which consists of a series of four steps. Knowledge and execution of the following steps can increase the survival rate by 20 percent or more:
- Early access to care (dial 911 immediately);
- Early CPR to maintain blood flow to the brain until the next step;
- Early defibrillation to deliver a shock of electricity to restart the heart with the use of an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED); and
- Early advanced care to be administered by a pre-hospital emergency team at the scene and during transport to the hospital.
Ulster County municipalities, businesses, educational institutions and other community organizations (CBO or Faith Based)are all eligible to apply for certification as a HEART Safe Community. The certification has three levels of recognition based on criteria met: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. A HEART Safe Community promotes and supports:
- CPR training in the community;
- Public access to defibrillation through strategic placement of AEDs for use by public safety professionals and other trained community members;
- Early advanced care; and
- Increase of out-of-hospital survival rate.
For more information on how to apply please contact the Ulster County Health Department’s Health Education Unit at (845)340-3160 or HealthEd@co.ulster.ny.us
The application can also be downloaded here and sent to:
Ulster County Health Department
Health Education Unit
300 Flatbush Avenue
Kingston, New York 12401
Links of Interest
- Hudson Valley Regional EMS
- American Heart Association
- American Red Cross
- American Safety and Health Institute
- AED vendor award information
- Tax Credit Information